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Remembering the lunar landing

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On May 25, 1961, President John F. Kennedy speaks in the House of Representatives before a joint session of Congress in Washington. Kennedy issued the challenge, 'I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out, of landing a man on the Moon and returning him safely to Earth.' A little over eight years later, Apollo 11 landed on the moon. AP/FILE

Astronauts Neil Armstrong (l.), Edwin 'Buzz' Aldrin (c.), and Lt. Col. Michael Collins stand with a plague that will be attached to a landing leg of the lunar module decent stage and will be left on the moon, and an Apollo 11 insignia on July 5, 1969. AP/FILE

The first manned mission to land on the moon, Apollo 11, is launched on July 16, 1969 from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA/Reuters/FILE

The footprint of astronaut Buzz Aldrin is seen on the moon in this July 20, 1969 file photo. NASA/Reuters

Astronaut Buzz Aldrin stands on the moon next to the Lunar Module 'Eagle.' Astronaut Neil Armstrong, who took this photo, was the first man to step on the moon on July 20, 1969. Neil Armstrong/NASA/Reuters/FILE

Most of Africa and portions of Europe are seen in this photograph taken from the Apollo 11 spacecraft during its translunar coast toward the moon, during July 1969. When the photo was taken, the craft was already 98,000 nautical miles from Earth. NASA/AP/FILE

Buzz Aldrin poses next to the American flag flown on the moon. Neil Armstrong/NASA/AP/FILE

Neil Armstrong is seen inside the Lunar Module while it rested on the surface of the moon. Armstrong and astronaut Buzz Aldrin had already completed their extravehicular space activities when this picture was taken. NASA/AP/FILE

The Apollo 11 lunar module rises from the moon's surface for docking with the command module and preparation for the trip back to Earth. Earth can be seen rising in the background. NASA/AP/FILE

Controllers at the mission Operations Control Room at the Johnson Space Center celebrate the successful conclusion of the Apollo lunar landing mission on July 24, 1969. NASA/Reuters/FILE

Amid ticker tape and American flags, Apollo 11 astronauts wave to welcoming New Yorkers during a parade up lower Broadway on August 13. From left are Lt. Col. Michael Collins, Col. Buzz Aldrin, and Neil Armstrong. Eddie Adams/AP/FILE

Astronauts Buzz Aldrin (from left), Neil Armstrong, Maj. Gen. Michael Collins, and Sen. John Glenn pose for photograph in front of the lunar module device at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington on Sunday, July 19 as part of the 40th anniversary celebrations of the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission. Marcus Yam/The Washington Post/AP

Apollo 11 crew member Maj. Gen. Michael Collins speaks during a lecture in honor of the Apollo 11 mission at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Collins described the photo in the background as one of his favorites, which he took of the lunar module returning to the orbiter before returning to Earth. Bill Ingalls/NASA/AP